Trocar catheter

ABSTRACT

The catheter of a trocar is provided with a moulded connector having a chamber in which a hollow cylindrical valve is rotatable. A flexible extension of the valve serves to obturate an inlet to the chamber and the insertion of a needle serves to deflect the extension so that it can pass through the inlet and out through an opposite outlet and thence through the attached catheter.

United States Patent Plowiecki July 22, 1975 [54] TROCAR CATHETER3,416,567 (\gon Dardlel ct a1. 128/274 X 3,525,363 1 ore eta 251/309 X 1lnvemorl Leolmld Plwmkh Mommorency 3,774,604 11/1973 Danielsson 128/2144France T 1 1 1 [73] Asslgnee it s z Supp y S A Primary Exammer-Dalton L.Truluck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anthony A. OBrien [22] Filed: Feb. 11,1974 [21] Appl. No.: 441,494

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar 6 1973 France07873 The catheter of a trocar is provided with a moulded connectorhaving a chamber in which a hollow cylin- [57] U S Cl 128/2144, l28/274128/347, drical valve is rotatable. A flexible extension of the 7137/525 251/309 valve serves to obturate an inlet to the chamber and[51] Int C12 L 5/00 the insertion of a needle serves to deflect theexten- [58] Fie'ld 347 274 sion so that it can pass through the inletand out ig through an opposite outlet and thence through the at tachedcatheter.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures3,144,177 8/1964 Cookson 137/5253 X PATENTEDJULZZ I975 3.895532 FIGJ 37, 30

race/ta cameras BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to terminal connector for a catheter usedfor example for trocars for the administration by a veinous or arterialpath liquids such as blood. The invention also relates to a catheterincluding such a connector and a trocar including such a catheter.

2. Summary of the Prior Art Trocars of earlier construction comprise asynthetic resin catheter and a metal perfusion needle. In order to usesuch a trocar. it is introduced into a vein or an artery, the needle isthen withdrawn from the catheter, the latter remaining inserted in thevein or artery and the terminal end of the catheter is then connected toa supply reservoir of liquid to be administered. Such a trocar hasvarious disadvantages: in the case of renal dialysis. the maindisadvantage is that at each puncture of the vein or the artery. theblood flows between the time when the needle is retracted and the timewhen the catheter is connected by its outer terminal end to the supplyreservoir. In the case of renal dialysis. the fact that this loss ofblood is repeated each week risks the substantial weakening of thepatient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a preferred method for carryingout the invention, the terminal connector of the catheter comprises atransverse chamber having only one liquid inlet and only one opposedliquid outlet and in which cham her an obturating member is rotatablymounted. This member is extended by a small tongue constituting anobturating part which in one position of the member that is theoperative position. abuts against the wall of the chamber at the inletside so as to prevent the re verse flow ofliquid through the inlet andleaves free the outlet in the wall of the chamber opposite the inlet.This small tongue or other extension is sufficiently flexible to becapable of being deflected by liquid passing through the inlet or by amember introduced into the inlet when the tongue is in thisoperativeposition. The obturating member is so shaped that by rotation throughone-quarter of a turn in one sense or the other with respect to theoperative position, it reaches an intermediate position in which itleaves a free passage through the chamber.

Further according to the present invention there is provided in aterminal connector for a catheter having a chamber transverse to thecatheter longitudinal axis with a single inlet for liquid and a singleopposed outlet for liquid and in which an obturating plug is rotatableto control such inlet and outlet. 21. flexible extension to the plugdisposed to obturate such inlet in one position of the plug and toprevent in this position any reverse flow through the inlet. the plugbeing rotatable to an intermediate position permitting free passagebetween such inlet and outlet through the chamber.

The terminal connector of the trocar catheter according to the inventionenables the disadvantage referred to. to be overcome. It enables, infact, the prevention of flow of blood from the vein or the artery of thepatient once the needle has been withdrawn from the catheter and it thenenables a normal perfusion after the terminal connector of the catheterhas been connected to the supply reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of acatheter of a trocar provided with a terminal connector of which anobturating plug in a valve chamber is in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a section similar to FIG. 1 but in which a flexible or otherextension has been deflected by a perfusion needle introduced into theterminal connector and into the catheter;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the obturating plug; and

FIG. 4 is a section of the terminal connector on line IVIV of FIG. 1,the plug being turned through a quarter of a turn so as to be in anintermediate position.

In these Figures the common members are designated by the same referencenumerals.

The trocar of FIG. 1 includes a terminal connector 10 moulded onto anend portion of a catheter 12, the other end portion 14 of the catheterbeing chamfered or otherwise shaped so as to facilitate introductioninto a vein or artery. The terminal connector 10 can be connected to asupply system by an end portion 16.

The terminal connector 10 comprises a transverselyextending chamber 18in which is rotatably mounted a plug 20 for obturating or blocking aninlet 22 of this chamber. The latter also comprises an outlet 24opposite to the inlet 22.

The plug 20 shown separately in FIG. 3 is a hollow cylinder extended bya small flexible tongue 26 which can be folded so as to lie parallel tothe bottom of the chamber (see FIG. 2). The upper end of the hollowcylinder forming the plug terminates in a head 28 having a slot 30similar to the slot of the head of a screw. The plug 20 is rotatable bya cap 32 forming a control button, preferably in the form of anarrow-headed button enabling the ready identification of possiblepositions of the plug.

The cap 32 comprises an internal ridge 34 which cooperates with the slot30 of the head of the plug in order to turn the latter in the chamber.

The cap 32 is snapped on the terminal connector 10 with the aid of aninternal annular groove 36 formed in the interior of the cap and whichcooperates with an annular ridge 38 provided on the external surface ofthat part of the connector defining the chamber.

The cap 32 thus enables the plug 20 to be rotated and to prevent thelatter from leaving the chamber 18.

In FIG. 1, the plug 20 is in an operative position, the small tongue 26blocking the inlet 22 of the chamber. The small tongue thus prevents anyreturn flow of the liquid towards the supply, but is sufficientlyflexible to be deflected to lie parallel to the base of the cylinderconstituting the plug under the action either of the pressure forceexerted by the supply liquid or by a needle 40 which is introduced intothe catheter.

In FIG. 2 the perfusion needle 40 is introduced into the terminalconnector 10 and into the catheter 12, the needle terminating at a point42 which extends beyond the chamfered end 14 of the catheter 12 so thatwhen the trocar is introduced into a vien or artery, the introduction ofthe needle prepares for the introduction of the catheter. The needle 40comprises at its opposite end a ferrule or bushing 44 (shown only inpart) which seals with the end portion 16 of the terminal connector 10.The tongue 26 is raised towards the lower rim of the cylinderconstituting the plug when the needle 40 is introduced.

In FIG. 4 the plug is in an intermediate position, the plug having beenturned through a quarter of a turn in one sense or the other withrespect to the position of FIG. 1. The inlet 22 of the chamber 18 is notblocked and the same applies to the outlet 24 which is not'visible inthis section.

The plug thus leaves the passage free either for the perfusion liquid orfor a needle.

A trocar equipped with a terminal connector for the catheter thereof inaccordance with the invention is used in the following manner: Beforeuse, the plug is turned to place it in the operative position shown inFIG. 1. The needle is then inserted into the trocar, the assemblyintroduced into the vein or the artery and then the needle is withdrawnfrom the catheter. H

Because of the resilience of the tongue and the pressure of the veinousliquid, the tongue 26 moves to block the inlet 22 of the chamber 18 andthus to prevent any reflux of blood of the patient. The terminalconnector is then connected through the catheter end portion 16 to thesupply system and, under the action of the pressure force exerted by thesupply liquid, the tongue 26 is again deflected and leaves the passagefree for liquid flow. If it is desired to permit a larger flow forperfusion, the plug can be turned through a quarter turn to theintermediate position of FIG. 4.

The cost of manufacture of the terminal connector of the catheter inaccordance with the invention is sufficiently competitive that it can beemployed for trocars which are used only once.

The trocar is made by moulding or by cementing of the terminal connectoronto a flexible tube with a chamfered end, the synthetic material beingpreferably the same for the connector and for the tube.

The plug 20 is made ofa synthetic, flexible and resilient material sothat the tongue 26 can readily be deflectedand will return on its ownaccord into the normal position, that is to say into the extension ofthe generating lines of the cylinder forming the plug, under the actionof its own resilience.

In orderto facilitate the rotation of the plug 20 in the chamber 18, itis preferable to use a lubricant, but this should not mix with thesupply liquid and so contaminate it.

The method of carrying out the invention as hereinbefore descriged isnot to be considered as limiting, so that any variation or modificationhaving the characteristics essential to the invention will not departfrom the scope of the latter.

I claim:

1. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor having alongitudinal axis, said connector having a chamber transversely disposedto the longitudinal axis, said chamber having a single inlet in one wallof the chamber and a single outlet in an opposite wall of the chamber,and an obturating plug rotatably disposed in said chamber to control theinlet and outlet, the improvement comprising a flexible extensionintegrally formed on a lower portion of said plug and being rotatedtherewith between operative and intermediate positions,

said flexible extension being rotated with said plug to its intermediateposition between the said one wall and the said opposite wall of thechamber whereby a liquid may flow through the chamber,

said flexible extension abutting said one wall to cover the inlet whenin its operative position to prevent a reverse flow of liquid throughthe inlet, said -flexi-.,.

ble extension being deflected away from said one wall by liquid passingthrough the inlet and by a member inserted through the inlet, and

said inlet and outlet being in alignment with said longitudinal axiswhereby the member may be inserted therethrough and protrude through thecatheter.

2. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor according toclaim 1, wherein the connector is integrally moulded onto the catheter.

3. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor to claim 1,wherein the connector has an end portion adjacent said inlet and abushing seals said end portion, and wherein said member comprises aperfusion needle centrally mounted in said bushing so as to beconnectable to a liquid supply.

4. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor according toclaim 1 wherein the obturating plug comprises a hollow cylinder offlexible resilient material including a head with a transverse slot, theend of the cylinder opposite to the head carrying said flexibleextension which takes the form of a prolongation of a part of thecylinder wall.

5. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefore to claim 4,comprising a cap mounted on the hollow cylinder, said cap having a ridgeengaging in the slot of the plug head to rotate the plug.

6. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor to claim 5,wherein the cap has an internal groove and the cylinder has an externalridge, the groove and the ridge being so disposed that when the cap isforced on to the cylinder, the ridge snaps into the groove to retain thecap on the cylinder.

1. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor having alongitudinal axis, said connector having a chamber transversely disposedto the longitudinal axis, said chamber having a single inlet in one wallof the chamber and a single outlet in an opposite wall of the chamber,and an obturating plug rotatably disposed in said chamber to control theinlet and outlet, the improvement comprising a flexible extensionintegrally formed on a lower portion of said plug and being rotatedtherewith between operative and intermediate positions, said flexibleextension being rotated with said plug to its intermediate positionbetween the said one wall and the said opposite wall of the chamberwhereby a liquid may flow through the chamber, said flexible extensionabutting said one wall to cover the inlet when in its operative positionto prevent a reverse flow of liquid through the inlet, said flexibleextension being deflected away from said one wall by liquid passingthrough the inlet and by a member inserted through the inlet, and saidinlet and outlet being in alignment with said longitudinal axis wherebythe member may be inserted therethrough and protrude through thecatheter.
 2. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector thereforaccording to claim 1, wherein the connector is integrally moulded ontothe catheter.
 3. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector thereforto claim 1, wherein the connector has an end portion adjacent said inletand a bushing seals said end portion, and wherein said member comprisesa perfusion needle centrally mounted in said bushing so as to beconnectable to a liquid supply.
 4. An intravenous catheter and terminalconnector therefor according to claim 1, wherein the obturating plugcomprises a hollow cylinder of flexible resilient material including ahead with a transversE slot, the end of the cylinder opposite to thehead carrying said flexible extension which takes the form of aprolongation of a part of the cylinder wall.
 5. An intravenous catheterand terminal connector therefore to claim 4, comprising a cap mounted onthe hollow cylinder, said cap having a ridge engaging in the slot of theplug head to rotate the plug.
 6. An intravenous catheter and terminalconnector therefor to claim 5, wherein the cap has an internal grooveand the cylinder has an external ridge, the groove and the ridge beingso disposed that when the cap is forced on to the cylinder, the ridgesnaps into the groove to retain the cap on the cylinder.